NRCS Announces Opportunity to Apply for Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program

Eligible producers are encouraged to apply for assistance by Feb. 15, 2013

DAVIS, Calif., January 15, 2013—The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) through Friday, February 15, 2013.

For Fiscal Year 2013, regional funding is available to help producers fund the implementation of conservation practices that enhance wildlife habitat for birds on eligible agricultural lands. WHEP will provide support to eligible agricultural operations for the implementation of conservation practices to enhance bird habitat. The eligible program area includes Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sutter, Sacramento, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

Interested parties in the eligible program area can contact their local NRCS Service Center to learn more about the program and application process. Also, the California Rice Commission will host a workshop on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, where NRCS staff will be on-hand to explain program elements. This free workshop will be held at Bonanza Inn, 1001 Clark Ave. in Yuba City from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHEP is targeted specifically to agricultural operations that have the capacity to adopt and apply conservation practices to provide and maintain shallow water wetlands, mudflats, and nesting areas for seasonal or year-round shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl and nesting and roost structures for certain non-waterbird species, such as songbirds and raptors.

Eligible producers who submit applications and other required documents by close-of-business on Feb. 15, 2013, will be considered for this Fiscal Year 2013 funding cycle. Funding decisions will be made according to the highest priority list of screened and ranked applications available at that time. Applications will continue to be accepted after this deadline, but ranking and funding decisions will be deferred until the next funding cycle.

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